Social Media Writing, Week #3
We are now in our third week of April during social media experiments month. This week, we are discussing experiments that have to do with writing. We are also kicking off an exciting 2-week raffle right here on Write Nonfiction in November! (See below for details.) Perhaps the single-most popular social media experiment in writing is blogging. Folks who do not have blogging experience are not familiar with the unique strategies needed to sustain a successful personal blog. Those who have blogging experience become veterans in a short time and can easily teach their own blogging basics class. Your job is to discuss your personal blogging experiences (as distinguished from business or guest blogging experiences).
Creative Idea Gal’s Thoughts
I am delighted to have completed my 1-year blogging anniversary just recently. I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in having completed one full year of consistent blogging that culminated in nearly 100 blog posts. That is a far cry from how I felt about blogging in 2006, when I created my first blog on wordpress. A combination of disgust about the quality of writing I saw and my own fear of not being able to keep up with my blog resulted in me abandoning my first blog after just two entries. Today, things are quite different. I now consistently write for four blogs.
One of the greatest social media experiments I did recently has to do with this unique set of writing prompts that I write for Write Nonfiction in November each week. It all began with a great deal of admiration of Nina Amir, a creative blogging idea, and a persuasive proposal to create writing prompts for her nonfiction writing audience on this site. Nina loved my idea and has featured my work since the first week of January. My social media experiment succeeded beyond my expectations and here we are in our fourth month of writing prompts! You just never know where life will take you, folks. I heartily encourage you all to conduct your own social media experiments in blogging!
Another cool social media experience I’m doing is changing the usual way I write blog posts in favor of a catchy alphabetical title. Any idea why I might be doing this?
Helpful Resources
The month of April is huge for bloggers. We are celebrating two very, very cool social media experiments: (1) National Book Blogging Month (NaBoBloMo) as well as (2) the A to Z Challenge for Bloggers. (Did you notice how I changed the wording of the title in today’s writing prompt to reflect the format of the A to Z Challenge?) So many people are encouraging others to blog in one way or anther. Now is your chance to start, if you’ve never blogged before, or continue strongly if you’ve gotten stuck along the way.
“Here at howtoblogabook.com, your April challenge is to blog a book in 30 days, and that’s no April Fool’s Day prank.” – Nina Amir, for HowtoBlogABook.com
“And when you can, be sure to follow the bloggers you really like and want to stay in contact with. We all like more followers don’t we?” – Arlee Bird, for A-to-ZChallenge.com
April 2013 – Extra Extra!
Today is April 15th, also known as Tax Day! No need to be depressed! Be happy. We are sponsoring a two-week social media experiment of our own – a Rafflecopter contest! From now until next Friday, the 26th, all readers of Write Nonfiction in November will have an exciting opportunity to win their very own copy of How to Blog a Book. Are you ready?
Here are the rules:
Earn up to 18 points per day by:
(1) tweeting about the giveaway (1 point)
(2) writing a blog post, a.k.a. completing a writing prompt (10 points)
(3) leaving a thoughtful blog post comment (2 points)
(4) adding the WNFIN badge to your blog (5 points)
The contest will run here on Write Non Fiction in November from April 15 – April 26. One lucky winner will win a copy of Nina Amir’s book How to Blog a Book. Winners will be announced the following Monday, on April 29. (Use the form below the writing prompt to enter.)
Writing Prompt 043
- Step 1: If you already have a blog, this writing prompt should be very easy to complete. If you have never blogged before, please try it a few times and then attempt this prompt. Think about the last few blog posts that you wrote. How easy were they to write? Did you research the topic or write whatever was on your mind? How would you describe your writing style?
- Step 2: Think about the topics you’ve blogged about. Think about things like frequency of blogging, publication and technical issues, and reader engagement. Think about how all of those things might affect your desire to blog.
- Step 3: Discuss your personal blogging experiences. (Don’t talk about any experiences you may have had in business or guest blogging.) Your writing should contain a good mix of positive and negative experiences. Write about what worked well and what you’d change. Back up your answers with specific examples.
Please be sure to leave comments about this writing prompt. We want to hear from you!
About the Author
Amanda M. Socci, J.D., is a freelance writer with 14 years of experience writing professionally. Socci currently cuts her blogging chops on her personal portfolio blog, the Creative Idea Gal blog, and on an online news site, Mount Vernon Patch. Inspired by Nina Amir’s Write Nonfiction in November writing challenge, she created a unique 10-month training program for Writenonfictionnow.com and Writenonfictioninnovember.com blog visitors.
Grab the badge of honor and upload it to your blog. Follow the prompts three times a week (M-W-F) right here.
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